German car sales could grow in 2014

Even though November registrations showed a 2 % decline, industry association VDA is confident that car sales in Germany will begin to recover next year.

The VDA said registrations might rebound to about 3 million units in 2014 after a forecast decline of 5 % to 2.93 million vehicles this year, compared with 3.08 million sales in 2012. An improvement in the second half failed to offset an 8 % drop in first-half registrations, the VDA said.

“The slow stabilization of the German market is continuing,” VDA President Matthias Wissmann said today in Berlin.

New-car registrations in Europe’s biggest market fell to 254,700 vehicles last month compared with the same month last year, but were up 3 % if adjusted for workdays, the VDA said. Sales were down 5 % to 2.74 million in the first 11 months.

Germany’s improving outlook echoes better development in France and Spain, where sales data published on Monday showed further signs of stabilizing after a prolonged recession in much of Europe pushed demand close to a two-decade low.